A Dunedin thespian's ''crash-diet'' combined with half a dozen wines resulted in a crash of a different kind, a court has heard.
Evan John Fenemor (24) appeared before the Dunedin District Court yesterday, where he pleaded guilty to drink-driving.
He fell asleep at the wheel at 4.30am on February 17 and smashed into a parked car on the side of Midland St - a wide industrial road in South Dunedin.
When police arrived and breathalysed him, Fenemor recorded 641mcg - more than twice the legal limit.
The episode may have overshadowed what had been a successful start to the year for Fenemor, who picked up the award for best leading male in a musical at the Otago Southland Theatre Awards (''the Ostas'') just days after the incident.
The accolades came following the defendant's portrayal as lovable chimney sweep ''Bert'' in the Taieri Musical Society's production of Mary Poppins.
Fenemor also made headlines as a teen in 2012 when he received a top scholar award at Wellington's Government House following stellar exam results as a pupil at Kavanagh College, topping the country in the subject of drama.
It was his commitment to his craft that contributed to his appearance in the dock, counsel Andrew More said.
He said Fenemor had been ''crash-dieting'' in preparation for a theatre role because he needed to lose weight.
The defendant admitted to police he had consumed six glasses of wine and fallen asleep.
Mr More told the court, despite the incident his client did not have an alcohol problem.
''He is extremely embarrassed and remorseful,'' he said.
Both vehicles involved in the smash were extensively damaged but police said they were unable to track down the owner of the other car to find out the cost he incurred.
Judge Kevin Phillips was astonished.
''I can't understand, in a city the size of Dunedin, how a police officer cannot locate the owner of the other vehicle,'' he said.
''I'm assuming all the work's been done with phone calls, without anyone visiting the victim to get the information.''
The judge asked police to compile a report for him detailing what lengths were taken to find the victim.
He then turned his attention to Fenemor, who he said was extremely lucky to be standing in court after his ''extremely bad driving''.
The defendant was fined $650 and banned from driving for eight months.
